Conservation authority permitting is required for development, site alteration, or any works within the Regulated Area of a conservation authority (CA) in Ontario. The regulated area typically includes land within a defined distance of a watercourse, valley, floodplain, or wetland, as established under Ontario Regulation 41/24 and the applicable CA’s policies.
A permit application requires technical studies demonstrating that the proposed works will not increase flood risk or erosion, will not affect the stability of a valley or watercourse, and will not create a pollution hazard. In most cases, this includes a Stormwater Management Report, a Grading Plan, and a technical rationale addressing each applicable regulation criterion directly.
Conservation authority reviews are independent from the municipal review process and run on separate timelines. For development in or near regulated areas, CA review is typically initiated early in the approval process to prevent it from becoming the critical path to construction. Applications are reviewed by the CA’s engineering and ecology staff, and permit issuance may be conditional on revisions to the stormwater or grading design.